Meyer Lemon Butter Burgers

These burgers are my FAVORITE burger recipe to date! The Meyer lemon herb butter is stuffed inside the patty before grilling. While it cooks, the butter melts throughout the patty resulting in the most flavorful and moist burger you'll ever taste.

Burgers are perfect for weekend BBQ's for a reason: they are inexpensive, fast, and crowd pleasing -  which means they are also perfect for a busy weeknight! The butter, nestled into the burger patty, sends these burgers over the top - so much that you'll likely never grill burgers without it again. The lemon lends a bright fresh taste, perfect for a summer dinner. It's like a pop of unexpected flavor! Whip up the butter the night before, leave it in the fridge to chill, and it'll be ready to go the next day. Easy peasy.

Can't find Meyer lemons? No worries! Just use regular lemons.

Meyer Lemon Butter Burgers
6 tablespoons butter, room temp
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh tarragon
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh basil
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh Italian parsley
1 teaspoon fresh Meyer lemon juice or regular lemon juice
1 teaspoon finely grated Meyer lemon peel or regular lemon peel
1.5 pounds ground beef (preferably 15%)
Hamburger buns
Toppings: sliced cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, etc.

In a small bowl, mix together the butter, all the herbs, lemon peel, and lemon juice until well combined. Season with salt and pepper. Measure out 1/3 cup butter and transfer it to a sheet of plastic wrap. Using the plastic wrap as aid, form the butter into a 3 inch log. Wrap to seal and place in the fridge until firm (if making this at the same time as the burgers, put it in the freezer for 30 minutes).

Divide the meat into 4 equal parts. Form each piece into a ball and, using your thumb, make a deep wide indentation in the center of each ball.

Slice the butter into 4 pieces and flatten them slightly. Press a butter piece into the indentation on each patty and seal the meat around the butter, completely enclosing it.

Preheat the grill to medium-high heat and oil the grates. Sprinkle both sides of the burgers with salt and pepper and grill until cooked through, 4-6 minutes per side. Spread the remaining butter on the cut sides of the buns and grill the buns until slightly charred, about 1 minute per side.

Source: Bon Appetit magazine